Regions Prepare For 2011 Canada Winter Games

The 2011 Canada Winter Games are coming to Nova Scotia, and four regions are preparing to bid to be the host. Highland region; central Nova Scotia; Annapolis Valley; and Halifax metro area are preparing to submit bids to the Canada Games Council.

"I'm thrilled that the Games are coming to Nova Scotia," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "The municipalities preparing to make bids all have unique qualities that would make them great hosts. Everyone is excited and working hard, and our role at this stage is to support them."

Nova Scotia Health Promotion and the Canada Games Management Group are offering support to communities that have indicated their interest in hosting. Leadership and technical information are being provided to interested municipalities to help them assess their ability to host the Games.

Health Promotion is helping regions prepare to make their bids by asking for information in three separate phases. The first phase

• aimed to evaluate a region's ability to host and accommodate athletes, coaches and managers -- was completed Jan. 31.

The deadline for phase two is March 31. Municipalities will have to demonstrate their ability to provide venues -- such as arenas and ski locations -- and transportation, including how they will move athletes between venues.

A seminar will be hosted by Nova Scotia Health Promotion on April 30 to provide interested host committees with further insight into the formal bid process. The deadline for the third and final phase is May 31. This phase deals with finance, budget, and marketing for the Games.

In the fall of 2005, the bid procedure requirements will be released, formally initiating the bid process. The host of the 2011 Canada Winter Games will be announced in the fall of 2006, after the Canada Games Council completes a site selection evaluation and forwards its recommendations to the minister.

"The 2011 Canada Winter Games will leave a lasting legacy in the province by investing in sport and recreation infrastructure, providing an opportunity for Nova Scotians to support our amateur athletes, and ensuring that our children have access to facilities and programs to play the sport of their choice," said Mr. MacDonald.

The last time Nova Scotia hosted the Canada Games was in 1987, when the Winter Games were hosted in Cape Breton. Halifax and Dartmouth held the first Canada Summer Games in 1969.

Since 1967, when Quebec City hosted the first Canada Winter Games, an estimated 48,000 young Canadians have participated in the Games. Another 190,000 have participated in try outs and qualifying events. Millions of Canadians have watched the Games either first-hand or on television, and more than 73,000 have been Games' volunteers.

Nova Scotia's athletes are currently preparing for the 2005 Summer Games, scheduled to take place Aug. 6-20, in Regina, Sask.